The Adirondack Mission
PO Box 119
Brant Lake, NY 12815
THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH WELCOMES YOU
The Adirondack Mission
(Sunday Services)
ST. PAUL’S, BRANT LAKE - 9:00AM GOOD SHEPHERD, CHESTERTOWN –10:30AM
ST. BARBARA’S, NEWCOMB –11:00AM ST. CHRISTOPHER’S, NORTH CREEK –9:00AM
ST. ANDREW’S, SCHROON LAKE –9:00AM
CHRIST CHURCH, POTTERSVILLE –11:00AM ST. HUBERT’S, LAKE PLEASANT—5:00PM
THE ADIRONDACK MISSION OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH IS PRAYERFULLY COMMITTED TO THE EUCHARISTIC WORSHIP OF GOD, TO EDUCATING OURSELVES, TO SPREADING THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS CHRIST AND TO LOVING AND SERVING CHRIST IN OTHERS WITH OUR TIME, TALENTS AND MONEY.
FROM THE MOUNTAINTOPS
December 2007
Fr. Limpert
INVITATIONS NEEDED
During the past two decades we have noticed a variety of attempts to help churches grow. There have been strategies with catchy names at the diocesan level, organized programs in parishes and mission congregations, and the ill-fated Decade of Evangelism in the national Episcopal Church. While numerical growth has occurred in some places, the over-all picture is not bright. Quality music programs, well-organized Christian education, strong preaching, meaningful youth programs, and successful out reach ministries all may have an impact on whether churches grow. Yet church leaders, and Episcopalians in particular, seem to overlook one time-tested strategy for growth: Ask someone to accompany you to church.
Survey after survey of people who have recently joined congregations have revealed one simple fact. The overwhelming percentage of new church members is a direct result of someone inviting them to church. For whatever reason, this has not been an easy thing for Episcopalians to do. We seem to feel comfortable about recommending movies or restaurants or various pastimes, but we don’t recommend our churches with the same enthusiasm. Most of us love our parish churches. Otherwise, we wouldn’t be there. Let us be eager to talk about our churches and invite someone to join us.
Dec. 4th at 6:00pm everyone in the Southern Adirondack Deanery (that’s us) is invited to “AN EVENING WITH BISHOP LOVE”.
There will be Evening Prayer, a potluck supper and an opportunity for conversation with our new bishop. It’s an evening not to be missed, so put in on your calendar today and plan on attending!
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LIFE IN THE MISSION
Take a look at St. Christopher’s. Thanks to Kit Huggard and Michael Webber. All the trim has been painted, AND, thanks to Fred Finley, the beautiful front door looks (almost) as good as new. Incidentally, St. Christopher’s front door, as well as St. Barbara’s front doors, were made by Fr. Limpert’s father—Robert, Sr. Katherine and Michael Webber fulfilled a lifetime dream (of his) by traveling to Churchill, Hudson Bay in October. Churchill bills itself as “The Polar Bear Capitol of the World”. Congratulations—Mark Whitney. On Nov. 6, Mark was elected a Board Member of the Schroon Lake Town Council. And congratulations Paul Smith on being re-elected Highway Superintendent, Town of Horicon. Still more congratulations: to Shirley Morse, member of St. Hubert’s—as are also several bears—as in “black bears”. Check it out on the Adirondack Mission website: www.fullhomelydivinity.org/adirondack Our deep sympathy to Peter Gath on the death of his sister, Dorinda.
OUR MISSION PRAYER LIST (PLEASE—let Fr. Webber know of names that should be added or removed. If nothing is said, names will be removed after several months.) Susan Atkinson, Shirley Boland, Mary Buhler; Janet (JC) Contois; Sharon Fancher; Margaret Girvin; Dottie Mikelson; Grover and Elizabeth Tarbox; Greg Tear; Ted VonCzoernig; Jesse Wilber; Art Wilson, Celeste Wilson; Eva Wilson In Nursing Home Claudia Ball; Lyla Hayes; Helen Preston; Lucy Ross; Martha Sisson; Gertrude Terrio; Our Young People in the Military Rob Hill ; Rob Haff; Robert Monroe; Michael L. Ross; David Eskew REST ETERNAL GRANT TO THEM, O LORD; AND LET LIGHT PERPETUAL SHINE UPON HIM. Herbert Granger; died Nov. 10; Funeral at St. Paul’s—Nov. 14 VESTRY NOTES The Vestry met on Thursday, Nov. 8, at St. Andrew’s. Following the Annual Meeting elections, this is the current Vestry membership: Wardens: Doug Paton and Colleen Murtagh. Members: Sara Eggers; Lynn Hadee; Andy Stengrevics; Roger Thomas; Kristine Tribou; Mark Whitney.
Fr. Limpert asked the Vestry to begin a planning process for the Mission. With particular regard to the uncertainty of available clergy; but also the changing demographics of our area. We need to consider what the Adirondack Mission may look like in 3 to 5 years. This will be a priority matter for the Vestry.
TREASURER’S REPORT—THRU OCTOBER
Budget Budget Actual Year 10 Months 10 Months RECEIPTS Plate & Pledge $ 86,500 $ 72,093.30 $ 76,558.58 Diocese & Investment $ 44,000 $ 36,666.60 $ 34,523.68 All Other $ 6,500 $ 5,426.60 $ 7,724.40 TOTALS $137,000 $114,166.50 $118,806.66 DISBURSEMENTS Support for Mission & Ministry $ 20,539 $ 17,115.80 $ 15,999.86 Utilities & Maintenance $ 23,565 $ 19,637.40 $ 18,217.05 Clergy $ 87,450 $ 72,875 $ 75,635.79
New Cars $ 10,500 $ 8,750 $ 8,590 TOTAL EXPENSES $142,054 $118,378.20 $118,442.70
DECEMBER CALENDAR
2: FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT 4: 6pm—EVENING WITH BISHOP LOVE and potluck supper. St. James, Lake George for all of us! 5: NO EUCHARIST at Chestertown today 6: ST. NICHOLAS’ DAY—10am—Eucharist & Bible Study—Schroon Lake 9: SECOND SUNDAY OF ADVENT 12: 10am—Eucharist & Bible Study—Chestertown 13: 10am—Eucharist & Bible Study—Schroon Lake 7pm—Vestry—Schroon Lake 16: THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT 19: 10am—Eucharist & Bible Study—Chestertown 2pm—Eucharist—North Creek Nursing Home 20: 10am—Eucharist & Bible Study—Schroon Lake 21: SAINT THOMAS DAY 6pm – Eucharist & Potluck - Schroon Lake 23: FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT 24: CHRISTMAS EVE—Holy Eucharist 3:30pm Lake Pleasant 6:00pm North Creek 8:00pm Brant Lake 8:00pm Schroon Lake 11:00pm Newcomb 25: CHRISTMAS DAY—10am Chestertown 26: SAINT STEPHEN’S DAY—10am—Eucharist & Bible Study—Chestertown 27: SAINT JOHN’S DAY—10am—Eucharist & Bible Study—Schroon Lake 28: THE HOLY INNOCENTS—6pm—Eucharist & Potluck supper, Schroon Lake. Let’s turn this into a parish Christmas Party FIRST SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS JANUARY JANUARY 1st: THE HOLY NAME/NEW YEAR’S DAY—6pm—Eucharist—Chestertown
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